Author's Note: This chapter is a "pilot" chapter of sorts because I want to get everyone's opinion on my idea before I continue with it. I've been wanting to do a fic like this for a while now but I didn't know if anyone would like it or not, which is why I've decided to write this chapter so that I can find out if you all want more. If you have the time after reading this first chapter please leave a review so that I know if you want me to continue with this idea or not, because I can then get on to writing more chapters for you all! Happy reading :-)
Agathe was unable to stop herself from smiling as she watched the light snowfall from where she was sat in the bed that she shared with her husband in the early hours of a winter's morning, her blonde hair hanging over her shoulders as her back was propped up with a number of pillows and the only light came from the lamp beside her on the nightstand. It was the feeling of tiny fingers grazing her chin that prompted her to lower her gaze to the newborn in her arms, tears burning in her eyes as she drew her shawl further around her daughter and brought her closer to her chest.
Readjusting her hold on her little girl so that she was laying a little more comfortably in her arms, she puckered her lips a little in order to kiss the pads of her fingers when she rested them there. She revelled in the way that her daughter gazed up at her with so much wonder in her eyes; in the way that she inspected her face and neck with light strokes of her fingers, and she was unable to resist the urge to lower her head and kiss her on the temple when she snuggled into her warmth. 'You were so worth all of that pain.' She whispered into the wisps of dark hair on top of her head.
It was a few minutes after she had drawn back and had settled against the pillows again that the sound of the bedroom door squeaking as it opened grasped her attention, her heart racing when she glanced up just in time to watch Georg slip into the room. The two of them exchanged a smile as he closed the door behind himself and she felt their daughter shift in her arms, a quiet giggle escaping her as she saw the slight nervousness in his eyes. 'Come here, darling.' She patted the space beside her on the bed before Georg began to approach her, his heart pounding in his chest.
He lowered himself down onto the bed once he had reached it, trying to be as careful as possible so not to disturb the newborn in his wife's arms, before Agathe turned her head in his direction. 'Hold your arms out.' She instructed, her voice no higher than a whisper as she offered him a tired smile. He tucked a strand of sweat-soaked blonde hair back beneath her ear before doing as she had said, his breath hitching as she eased their child into his arms. 'This is your daughter, Georg.'
Tears pricked in his eyes at her words, a tearful sigh escaping him as he held their daughter close to his chest and drew the shawl that she was wrapped in further around her to prevent her from getting cold. He felt his heart swell with love for her as she gazed up at him through half-lidded blue eyes - eyes that resembled his perfectly - before he chuckled when she let out a large yawn. He turned his head in Agathe's direction after a few seconds, nothing but love and pride for her shining in his eyes. 'You clever, clever girl.' He breathed, causing his wife to blush as she giggled.
He slipped one arm out from beneath their daughter before sliding his hand beneath the curtain of her hair and cupping her cheek in his palm, his thumb running over her skin before he leaned in to give her a kiss that was soft and slow and passionate all at the same time. He leaned his forehead against hers once the two of them had parted from their kiss, her warm breath hitting him in the face as he ran his fingers through her hair. 'There aren't words to describe just how proud of you I am.' He gave the tip of her nose a light graze with hers. 'You are so brave and so strong, my love.'
'I love you.' She whispered, cupping the sides of his neck in her hands.
'And I love you.' He pressed a number of kisses onto her lips. 'You have no idea how much.'
He wrapped his free arm around her waist then before drawing her close and allowing her to curl into his side, her head coming to rest on his shoulder as they gazed down at their little girl who was somewhere between slumber and consciousness in his arms. 'I can't believe how much she looks like you.' Agathe smiled as she caressed their daughter's face, Georg chuckling in response.
'I knew that she was going to be beautiful,' He shook his head, 'but she's exceeded all expectations that I had.' He felt Agathe snuggle further into his warmth at his words, smiling when she pressed her face into his neck and left a number of kisses there. 'She needs a name.' He reminded her as he gave her waist a squeeze, her hand running up and down the front of his chest while she nodded.
'I quite liked the one that you suggested a couple of days ago.' She told him.
'Which one was that?' He raised his brow.
'Elizabeth.' She met his gaze. 'You said that we could call her Liesl for short. She looks like a Liesl.'
He lowered his gaze to their little girl before humming in agreement. 'She does.'
'Liesl von Trapp.' Agathe tried out the name. 'It suits her.'
Georg turned his attention back to her as he ran his hand up and down the length of her arm. 'I feel so blessed to have you for my wife.' He said. 'There were so many men - younger men - who would have killed to have you for their wife and yet you chose me.' Agathe gave his cheek a tender stroke.
'I chose you because you were the only man I wanted.' She told him. 'I didn't want an uneducated, immature boy for my husband, I wanted a real man. I wanted a man who would look after me and love me and defend my honour, and that is exactly what I got when I married you.' She draped her arm over his stomach, anchoring herself to him. 'I don't care that you're eleven years older than me; I don't care that there are some people out there who look down their noses at us because of our age difference, because I love you and I know that you love me and that's all that matters.'
Georg looked at her in silence for a moment before giving her a long kiss. 'You are a wonder.'
'So I've been told.' She smirked.
She settled in his embrace when he began to run his hand up and down her back through her nightgown, a gentle sigh escaping him when he looked into her eyes and took note of the fatigue that was living in them. 'You're exhausted, darling, and no wonder.' He whispered. 'Why don't you lie yourself down and try to get some rest?' Agathe traced his jawline with a sweep of her fingers.
'Are you sure?' She asked. 'I don't mind staying awake if you want to talk.'
He shook his head. 'You need to rest if your body is going to recover from the birth. You lie down; I'm going to go and put Liesl in her cot and then I'll come to bed myself.' Agathe gave a slow nod, her lips curling up into a loving smile when she leaned down to kiss their little girl on the cheek.
She then shifted out of her husband's hold before lowering herself down onto her side, her eyes fluttering closed as her head hit her pillow and she settled beneath the quilt. She was aware of Georg stroking her hair as she drifted off to sleep, a quiet sigh leaving her as she knew that she wouldn't be able to love him more even if she tried.
It took minutes for slumber to claim her, Georg feeling a wave of relief wash over him when her snores began to fill the air and reassured him that she was sleeping well. He turned his attention to their precious Liesl after covering her further with their quilt, bringing his hand up to trace the outline of her face with the tips of his fingers. 'Mein schatz.' He whispered, watching her sleep.
He lowered his head in order to nuzzle a kiss onto her forehead, shushing her when she grizzled as he rose from the bed with her. After drawing her closer to his chest he walked around to the small cot that stood on Agathe's side of the bed before lowering her down into it, using his fingertips to stroke her dark wisps of hair as he gazed down at her in wonder. 'Pleasant dreams, sweetheart.' He said before coming away from her cot and lifting his gaze to his wife, smiling as he did so.
When he had told her that she had made him prouder than he could explain a short time earlier he had meant it with all his being. He knew how terrified she had been at the thought of giving birth - she had cried into his chest about it several times over the last few weeks - but nevertheless she had soldiered on through five hours of agony to bring their little girl into the world and he would never stop reminding her of how proud she had made him by doing so.
He knew - when he felt his eyes begin to sting - that it was time for him to climb into bed beside his wife and get some sleep himself, and so he turned off the lamp on Agathe's nightstand before walking around to his side of their marital bed. He peeled back the covers before sliding onto the mattress, a yawn escaping him as he turned out the lamp on his bedside table before laying down behind his wife and wrapping his arms around her. 'Georg?' Agathe mumbled as she began to stir.
'I'm here, love.' He whispered, kissing the nape of her neck. 'Go back to sleep.'
She turned over in his arms after a few seconds, her eyes still closed as she snuggled as far into him as possible and pressed her face into his throat. 'Goodnight, Georg.' She gave a contented sigh.
'Goodnight, Agathe.' He replied as he placed his hand on the small of her back. 'Sleep well.'
She was asleep again in seconds, her eyelashes and warm breath beating against the skin of his throat as he held her close and stroked the curls that hung down her back. He knew that he didn't deserve her; that he would never be worthy of her love, but he was never going to stop trying.
He was going to spend the rest of his life loving her and cherishing her and trying to make her see
herself as the beautiful, strong, charming woman that he had always known her to be.
As he fell asleep beside her that night he counted his blessings as he did every night.
He was grateful for everything that he had in life, but he knew that his two girls would always be his biggest blessings of all.
Author's Note: Thank you all for reading this chapter and - as I said in the beginning - I would be so grateful if you would leave a review to let me know what you thought and also if you would like me to carry on with this idea. Thank you!